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Abstract

The broad objective of the '12 Day Induction Training for antiretroviral therapy and community care centre (ART/CCC) Counsellors' was to impart knowledge and skills among ART/CCC counsellors with special reference to adherence, the medical aspects of intervention and the role of CCC and to study the impact of the training. The training programme was designed following the training schedule suggested by National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO). A group of 15 ART/CCC Counsellors from the North East States of India participated in the training. Out of the 15 participant counsellors, 10 were females while 5 were males. The training methods included interactive classroom lectures, group activities, role play and field visit. The resource persons for the training programme were the Master Trainers as well as qualified and experienced professionals. For evaluation of the training programme, pre-test and post-test design was followed and data were collected before and after the training using a Pre and Post Training Knowledge Questionnaire. A comparative analysis of pre and post training data demonstrates a clear trend of overall significant knowledge increase and skill development in all the 30 parameters, with small variations (p<0.01). Average score of the participant counsellors in the pre-training assessment was 19.0 while in the post-training assessment it was 38.5. The difference was found to be statistically significant at the 0.05 level. However, out of 21 knowledge areas there was no significant knowledge gain in about half of the areas while there was significant skill development in seven areas out of nine. Scores of pre and post training knowledge questionnaire were categorized into three grades i.e., 'Grade A' (score range: 41 60); 'Grade B' (score range: 21 40) and 'Grade C' (score range: '0 20'. Analysis of the pre training data demonstrates that out of the 15 counsellors, 9 and 6 were in 'Grade-C' and 'Grade-B' respectively. After attending the 12 day

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Abstract

Although most of the children experience abuse and neglect at home, educational institutions is also a place where they are subjected to caning, slapping, and whipping that result in bruises, cuts, and humiliation and in some cases serious injury or death. The Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989), ratified by nearly every country in the world, obliges governments to protect children from all forms of physical or mental violence. Yet, millions of children continue to suffer violence and abuse. For given the same background, the necessity was felt to carry out an in-depth qualitative study to understand the perception of students in Pondicherry about abuse including verbal, physical and sexual abuse, and neglect, and their awareness and need for child rights. The objective of the present study was to understand students' perception of abuse and neglect. For achieving this objective, four Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), two with boys and two with girls were carried out among school going students aged between 14 -16 years. From the discussion it emerged that corporal punishment still existed in majority of the homes and it is associated with unpleasant emotions. Students shared their expectations from teachers and parents. Both boys and girls were of the view that boys get physically punished and girls are verbally abused. On the context of physical/ sexual abuse, it was found that girls were more aware of the issue. The understanding of abuse and neglect among students and defining these concepts was also done in the discussions. Findings of the present study suggests the need for creating awareness among parents and teachers about negative effects of corporal punishment and abuse, and also sensitizing students about abuse and being on a safer side. The need for psychologist/ counsellors at school for addressing emotional issues was also understood from the discussions.

Keywords

Student Perception, Abuse, Neglect.

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Adolescent Reproductive Health Services through Anwesha Clinic in West Bengal: Profile of Beneficiary, Reasons for Visit, Challenges and Perceived Solutions

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The broad objective of the study was to understand the profile of the adolescents visiting the Anwesha Clinic, reasons for visit, and challenges in delivering the services. A group of 31 Anwesha (Adolescent) Clinic Counsellors was covered in the study. Data were collected using an in-depth interview guide and case study method. This apart, case study method was also adopted. So far as profile of the beneficiaries is concerned, beneficiaries mostly belonged to 10 to 19 years age group and above, came from poor socio-economical background and engaged in various daily wage earning jobs while some of the beneficiaries mostly males were also travelling to other cities and working as migrant labourers. Most of the adolescents were referred cases with common ailments like cold, cough, and fever. This apart, girls mostly visited the clinic with menstrual problems, white discharge, lower abdominal pain, unwanted pregnancy and anaemia while boys visited the clinic to clarify issues like masturbation, night fall and problems in relationships including phone sex. Some of the boys visited the clinic just for fun and to engage in casual conversation with the female counsellors. In general, follow up was very poor across the districts. The main problems faced by the counsellors were space problem for confidential counselling, negative attitude of the permanent staff at the centre towards the counsellors, who are contractual staff and lack of support from the authority. All the counsellors felt the need for intensive training for delivering effective services to the beneficiaries confidently. A number of steps are suggested towards effective delivery of services through Anwesha Clinic.

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Abstract

The present study intends to understand the parents' perception about children's academic stress and child care related issues. A group of 139 parents, 68 fathers and 71 mothers, participated in the study voluntarily and they were selected following convenience sampling technique. In order to achieve the objective of the study, a specially designed semi-structured questionnaire was used. Findings disclosed that about one-third of the fathers (29.4%) and one-tenth of the mothers (9.9%) frankly admitted that they could not provide quality care and guidance to their children and in this regard significant difference was observed between fathers and mothers (p<.05). More than four-fifth of the parents stated that they should be friendly with their children so that children feel comfortable to share their personal issues with them. More than one-fifth fathers (27.9%) and one-fourth mothers (16.9%) applied corporal punishment as they believed it is necessary to discipline them and/or for better academic performance.

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Perceived Academic Stress of University Students across Gender, Academic Streams, Semesters, and Academic Performance

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The broad objective of the study was to investigate the perceived academic stress of Pondicherry University students across gender, academic stream, semesters, and academic performance. A group 699 university students from three academic streams viz., Humanities&Social Science, Science and Management was covered m the study following multi-stage cluster sampling method and data was collected by using a specially designed Structured Questionnaire and a standardized psychological scale on academic stress following self-admmistration method. Findings disclosed that female students experienced more academic stress compared to male student (p<.01). Students from Humanities and Social Science were found to be suffering from more academic stress than that of Science and Management students (p<.01). Semester II students (p<.01) and students with better academic performance (p<.01) reported experiencing more academic stress. The findings speak in favor of institution-based mentalhealth support services for the university students tohelp them to overcome the academic stress and perform better

Keywords

Students, Academic Stress, University.

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Incidence of Violence Experienced by the College Students during Childhood and its Association with Income:A Retrospective Study

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Violence against children has become a grave reality and a global phenomenon. The increasing rate of reported violence against children prompted the researchers to carry out a retrospective study on this issue among Kolkata college students to get a better idea about the issue. It is believed that college students may not be hesitant to share childhood incidence of abuse since they are matured now. The main objective of the current study was to ascertain the prevalence and nature of violence experienced by the students during childhood in Kolkata and its association with income. A group of 400 undergraduate and graduate students (221 females and 189 males) and were in the aged ranging between 18 and 25 years participated in the study voluntarily and data were collected by using a through specially designed "semi-structured questionnaire." Findings revealed that 70.8% (283/400) of the students experienced some form of violence during childhood as reported (57.5% males and 81.4% females) and in this regard significant difference was observed (P<0.001). Of the total subjects who experienced some form of violence, about 49.5% (198/400), 37.8% (151/400), and 27% (108/400) experienced verbal/psychological, physical, and sexual violence respectively, while 25.5% (102/400) of the students witnessed violence within the family. Further analysis revealed that male and female students differed significantly in experiencing verbal violence (P<0.001), physical violence (P<0.001), sexual violence (P<0.001). Furthermore, violence was observed to prevail more in lower and higher income groups rather than middle income group (P<0.05). The issue requires attention of the State Commission for Protection of Child Rights and Child Welfare Committee.

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Abstract

Children need to be cared for and protected for the formation of a robust nation. The rampant increase in incidence of child sexual abuse becomes a major apprehension for all stakeholders in society. Child sexual abuse is viewed as Progressive Social Disorder as there are many hurdles which the child, family and community find difficulty to come out from, which is augmented by recurrence of abuse on the same victim and on different victim by same offender or by different offender. The consequences of sexual abuse on the child include short-term and long-term impact on the developmental aspects of the child throughout their lifespan. A model for combating the disorder has been developed. Prevention, Justice and Rehabilitation entailing equal significance by stakeholders, is required towards creation of healthy and safe haven for the future of the nation.